THE Secretary of State for Trade and Industry swept into Malvern yesterday to open the latest new building on Malvern Hills Science Park.

Patricia Hewitt MP spent almost two hours at the science park and met with representatives of several tenant companies.

Her visit culminated in the unveiling of a plaque to mark the official opening of the new Regional Technology Exchange, which was completed in December 2001.

The Malvern Hills Science Park was established in 1998 by a partnership of local economic development agencies, including Malvern Hills District Council, Worcestershire County Council and the Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

QinetiQ, the former Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, is also a partner in the joint venture.

Ms Hewitt called the science park, which is expanding rapidly to keep up with demand from IT-based companies, a "major achievement".

"This shows that first-class facilities will attract first-class companies," she said.

"The success of the Regional Technology Exchange is a living example of this and shows how the UK responds to the challenge of continuous innovation and is able to keep pushing at the boundaries of what can be achieved in the field of science."

During her tour of the science park, Ms Hewitt was treated to demonstrations of a range of new hi-tech products, some of them based on technologies recently commercialised by QinetiQ.

She visited three companies, including ZBD Displays, pSiMEDICA and Embrace IT.

A number of local dignitaries were introduced to Ms Hewitt during her visit, including the Mayor of Malvern.

A further eight phases of development are planned for Malvern Hills Science Park following the success of the Regional Technology Exchange and the first building, the Innovation Centre, which was officially opened in April 2000.